Stating that stress has been a fundamental element of survival since human existence, Internal Medicine Specialist Dr. Niiar Alioğlu said, “If we did not experience stress, we would not be able to feed and shelter ourselves, and our immune system cells would not be activated. But the point to be considered here is that this stress should be at an acceptable level.”
BHT CLINIC Istanbul Tema Hospital Internal Medicine Specialist Dr. Niiar Alioğlu said, “Today, stress has changed dimension and has become extreme. Waiting jobs, long hours in traffic and more have increased the level of stress. Excessive levels of stress have become a threat to every system in our body. One of the important systems threatened by stress is the digestive system. Stress can disrupt the balance of the digestive system and cause diseases such as functional dyspepsia, peptic ulcer and reflux.”
Emphasizing that stress causes the secretion of hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol, Dr. Alioğlu said, “These hormones are also called stress hormones. These secretions irritate the stomach. It increases the acid level in the stomach. It usually manifests itself as discomfort, tension or pain in the abdomen, he said.
“The discomfort may vary according to the person,” continued Dr. Alioğlu; ”Some people may have symptoms such as nausea, indigestion, bloating or diarrhea. The digestive system works in a very complex way. Intracellular pathways work together with other organs and systems and with organisms that use hormones and electrical impulses at the cellular level. Disruption of this harmony means that digestive problems occur.”
Excessive stress also affects our digestive system
Dr. Niiar Alioğlu said that unbalanced and unhealthy nutrition, smoking and alcohol consumption, overfilling the stomach, insomnia, fatigue and unconscious drug use can disrupt the harmony of the digestive system. She emphasized that one of the biggest factors that cause this harmony to deteriorate is stress.
Dr. Alioğlu stated that electrical activity measurements made in the stomach muscles show that stress can disrupt stomach movements, and that stress can cause problems such as difficulty swallowing and a feeling of being stuck in the esophagus, diarrhea, abdominal pain, nausea, constipation, vomiting, belching, fullness and bloating.
Meditation, Sports and Nutrition for Stress Management
Dr. Niiar Alioğlu said that if responsibilities cause stress, these responsibilities should be reduced and emphasized that relaxation techniques such as meditation, yoga and breathing exercises are widely used to control stress. He also added that regular exercise is an effective way to cope with stress. “The negative effects of foods high in sugar and fat on the psychological state and digestive system should not be ignored. It is important to remember that making time for favorite activities is not a luxury but a necessary practice.”
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